HUNTING- THE SEA OTTER. 83 



we spoke very slowly, it was easy to see by the puzzled 

 expression of his countenance when he was at a loss. 

 Naturally enough, he did not wish it to be seen, and 

 answered glibly enough, " I understand." To avoid the 

 necessity of drawing on his imagination, our replies to 

 questions were repeated in different forms, and, when all 

 seemed to comprehend, a consultation took place as to 

 what the next question was to be. The following however, 

 is the gist of what passed : 



Interpreter : " What are you doing here ? " 



Snow : " Hunting the sea otter." 



Interpreter : " Who gave you permission ? " 



Snow : " Nobody. We Englishmen do not consider it 

 necessary to ask anyone's permission when we sail on 

 the seas." 



Interpreter: "You do not seem to know that this is 

 Japanese territory." 



Snow: "What! The sea?" 



Interpreter : " No; but the Island of Yetorup, where you 

 have been hunting." 



Snow : " We have not been hunting on the land, only on 

 the sea." 



Here the Governor, quite unaware of our knowledge of 

 their language and who evidently disapproved of the length 

 of the examination, briefly explained to his coadjutors the 

 maritime habits of the sea otter, and further added that the 

 charge upon which we ought to be arraigned should be that 

 we had stolen the sea otters belonging to Japan, and were, 

 therefore, robbers robbers of the worst description, he 

 added violently. 



Poor man ! No wonder he was angry, for the few otter 

 skins procured by the natives during the winter with 

 their matchlocks had been a nice perquisite, and to see 

 his monopoly destroyed by these foreign devils was more 

 than he could stand. 



Interpreter : " Have you obtained any otter skins? " 



Snow (airily) : " Oh, yes, thanks, a few." 



G 2 



